Pasadena family describes terror of shooting that killed three

Pasadena Police block off the street corner of North Summit Avenue and Penn Street, after three people were killed, two wounded following a shooting in a residential area of Pasadena on Saturday. A suspect is in custody. (Photo by James Carbone for the Pasadena Star News)

PASADENA >> A terrified family of six found themselves in the midst of a hail of bullets Saturday afternoon when they arrived home near the beginning of a shooting rampage that left three people dead and two others wounded.

Sandra Barraza, 37, her husband, Alfredo Garcia, 41, and their four children had just returned from the store when they noticed a police SUV and a patrol car parked in front of their house, Garcia said.

They did not see the body of a woman who had been fatally shot lying behind a tree across the street, or the body of a man who also had been shot to death just up the street.

Suddenly, a group of police officers carrying rifles yelled to the family to get inside.

“We took two steps, and the shooting started,” said the couple’s 18-year-old daughter, Melissa Perez. Also in the driveway were Perez’s 12- and 15-year-old brothers and her 16-year-old sister.

An officer fled to cover behind the police SUV as the gunman, later identified by police as 44-year-old John Izeal Smith of Pasadena, continued shooting, riddling the vehicle with bullets. The family stood directly behind the SUV when the gunfire began.

Bullets flew on both sides of the family’s driveway as they ran for their home, Sandra Barraza said. Her husband added that he could see smoke rising from the AK-47-type rifle wielded by the gunman as he fired from the front lawn of the home across the street.

“It was horrible. Like a movie scene,” Barraza said. “I was so scared. He was right in front of us.”

The officer remained pinned down by the gunfire for about 10 minutes, until fellow officers placed an armored vehicle between him and the gunman to allow him to escape, Alfredo Garcia said.

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The gunman walked up and down the street for about 20 minutes, periodically firing from his rifle before holing up back in the home where the incident began.

For another tense half-hour, police with rifles swarmed the neighborhood.

“There were officers on our roof,” Barraza said.

The family said they breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the shooter being led away in handcuffs. Smith surrendered to police within an hour of the first gunfire after being persuaded to do so by a police dispatcher he was speaking with by telephone, police said.

Coroner’s officials Sunday released the name of one of three people killed in Saturday’s mass shooting in the 1700 block of North Summit Avenue. Two other people were also wounded in the shooting.

Maria Teresa Aguiar, 59, died along with two men at the scene of the deadly rampage in the 1700 block of North Summit Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Fred Corral said.

Her city of residence was not yet listed at the coroner’s office Sunday morning, but public records indicated Aguiar lived on the street where the shooting took place. A phone number listed as belonging to Aguiar was not working.

The identities of the two men killed in the attack have not been released pending of notification of family.

The rifle used by Smith fired powerful 7.62x39mm bullets, the chief said, adding that he did not know the specific type of weapon.

The same caliber of rounds are fired by the infamous AK-47 assault rifle, and police described the weapon as an AK-47 style rifle.

Sanchez said it was not clear if Smith reloaded during the alleged rampage, or was in possession of one or more high-capacity magazines. At least one, and possibly two, handguns were recovered at the scene as well, Sanchez said. It did not appear that a handgun had been used in the shooting, however, as investigators found only rifle bullet casings at the scene.

“All that stuff, we’re trying to find out today,” Sanchez said.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard expressed grief over the incident, as well as pride in the first responders who rushed to the scene.

“Obviously it’s a tragedy for all directly involved: the victims, even for the shooter, and for our community. But I am proud of the way in which the Pasadena police department handled this event, never firing a shot themselves, and gaining custody of the perpetrator for purpose of an early resolution of the crime,” the mayor said.

He added that the Summit Avenue shooting is yet another call for a re-evaluation of how society deals with firearms.

“This question of guns in America is a tremendous challenge to all that this country stands for,” Bogaard said. “Recognizing that many people believe that direct access to guns is Constitutional right that has no constraints, I hope that we all will renew our efforts to determine acceptable limits on gun availability in light of the events of recent.”

The investigation was ongoing into exactly what preceded the gunfire, which erupted shortly after 4 p.m. Pasadena Police Chief Sanchez said the violence was believed to have stemmed from a landlord-tenant dispute. Further details of the dispute were not available Sunday.

Smith allegedly shot one person to death inside a home before chasing and shooting others outside, Sanchez said.

One victim chased outside by Smith was fatally shot, as was a good Samaritan who came to help after hearing gunshots, police said.

Aguiar was found outside the home, along with the good Samaritan, officials said. One of the dead men was found inside the home.

A man and woman suffered non-life-threatening wounds in the incident, Sanchez said. One was taken to a hospital for treatment, while the other was treated at the scene.

The survivors were shot just north of the home, Sanchez said. It remained unclear if they were intended targets or bystanders caught in the barrage of bullets.

“The suspect was known to at least two of the victims,” Sanchez said.

The relationships between the victims, as well as the victims’ relationships to the suspect was not released.

The five victims ranged in age from 20 to 70, Sanchez said.

Detectives busily continued gathering evidence Sunday.

“Detectives have been out there all night long,” he said. “We will be back out there today.”

The first police officer to arrive on scene was fired upon by Smith, police said. The officer ducked behind his patrol car and was not injured, though his car was riddled with bullets fired from Smith’s rifle.

Smith then barricaded himself inside the home and called Pasadena police, Sanchez said. A dispatcher persuaded him to surrender within the hour.

A crisis negotiator assisted the dispatcher, but the dispatcher spoke with Smith, as she had already established a rapport with the suspect.

“I’m told that she remained calm and engaged the suspect in an intense dialogue, but ultimately was able to convince the suspect to go outside the residence,” Sanchez said.

Following orders relayed by the dispatcher, Smith surrendered without further struggle, officials said.

Police initially described Smith as 35 years old, but Los Angeles County booking records indicated he is 44. Public records indicate he lived on the same property as Aguiar.

Barraza and Garcia said Smith had been living in a back house behind where the shooting began.

The man found dead inside the house lived there, the couple said. They said he appeared to be a senior citizen, possibly in his 70s. They did not know the identity of the woman found shot to death along the sidewalk, or the good Samaritan.

Smith was being held without bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles pending his initial court appearance, records show. He was taken to the Los Angeles facility due to a “pre-existing” medical condition, Sanchez said. “I don’t know what that medical condition was.”

The suspect was not injured during the incident, Sanchez said.

His arraignment date was not available. Criminal suspects are generally arraigned within two court days of arrest. Smith was expected to face charges including multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.

“As is our practice in these situations, we send out community outreach officers, who are knocking on doors of residents to give them as much information as we can.”

Pasadena City Councilwoman Jacque Robinson said she visited the neighborhood Sunday afternoon to speak with residents, following up on visits from police.

“I’m just shocked by the sheer magnitude of how many people died needlessly yesterday, and certainly my prayers go out to the families of those involved,” she said. “And I’m just grateful to the officers and the dispatcher and certainly the good Samaritan that tried to help and died trying to come to the assistance of the other victims.”

And despite the tragic loss of life and injury that unfolded Sunday on Summit Avenue, “It sounds like, based on the account given to us by police, it could have been a lot worse,” she said.

“It’s yet another instance of gun violence where we’re left with more questions than answers at this point,” Robinson said.

Councilman Victor Gordo also said he was devastated to learn of the shooting.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, but at the same time, we’re grateful that the officer who responded to help the victims was not injured as he attempted to render aid,” Gordo said.

“This is another reminder that public safety is, and should remain, our top priority,” Gordo said. “The brave men and women in the police department who we ask to run toward bullets play a very import role in our city.”

Gordo also commended the good Samaritan who lost his life.

“He should be remembered as a very brave person who attempted to help a fellow human,” Gordo said.

Councilman Steve Madison said the rampage was “...a tragedy that has not just local significance, but national significance.”

“I understand that the principal weapon was an assault rifle, and we know those are extremely dangerous. There have been attempts to regulate those that have not been all that successful, unfortunately.”

Madison also praised the work of first responders.

“Here’s an example, once again, of our police department doing a really terrific job and exhibiting amazing bravery and courage and skill under all the circumstances,” Madison said.

“This is a situation where an officer risked his life trying to help a victim, was shot at numerous times, as I understand did not return fire, and the situation as successfully negotiated through a dispatcher and a trained negotiator,” he said. “I really tip my hat to the officers and dispatchers and the entire department, as well as members of the community who helped out.”